Gonorrhea 101: Things You Need To Know

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease which is caused by a bacterium known as neisseria gonorrhoeae. The symptoms in the human body varies, based on many clinical researches and real life experiences which have led experts to conclude that the symptoms may either be obvious and severe in some persons while others experience fewer symptoms or none at all.

How does it spread?

Gonorrhea can be transmitted primarily during exposure to unprotected sex, i.e., flesh and fluid contacts with an infected person. Usually, the common symptoms of gonorrhea are pain in the genital tract as well as the occasional problems it causes in the joints, rectum, eyes, and throat. A remarkable point to note when trying to understand the infection is its ability to affect both men and women; that said, men have been statistically proven to be more prone to it than women.

Added to this, the bacterium can be gotten by just a simple contact with the infected areas. It suffices to say from the foregoing that the ground of contracting the infection is not only when there is penetration because a mere contact of both genitals would suffice. For persons who fancy anal sex also, contact with the mouth is enough for contracting the infection.

Gonorrhea is not spread through food or clothing?

Another amazing fact to note on this subject is that the germ cannot survive for up to a minute outside the body. By implication, one cannot contact the infection by using the same toilet, cutleries, or clothing that an infected person had used. This same fact applies to sharing the same bed or other such furniture with a person infected with gonorrhea. This fact is important to dispel rumors, myths, and half-truths about how people catch and transmit gonorrhea.

What are the chances of contracting gonorrhea?

It is important to note the factors that increases the risks of contracting the disease while at the same time trying to understand what it is. These factors include:

having unprotected sex with a new partner (hitherto living with the disease),

previous treatment of gonorrhea,

multiple sex partners,

having other sexually transmitted diseases, and so on.

How to treat and manage gonorrhea

Gonorrhea can be managed and treated when one is discovered to be living with it. Among the host of safeguard measures recommended by physicians and disease control experts, these are the most crucial, yet simplest:

the use of condoms,

limiting the number of sexual partners,

getting tested regularly, especially with home rapid test kits a few days after sexual relations with a new partner,

visiting a medical examiner when symptoms are noticed,

and making sure one’s partner is tested after discovery of oneself being positive in the tests.

What are the symptoms of this disease – in men?

The symptoms of gonorrhea should also be within one’s knowledge because some men infected live with it in ignorance.

One of the common symptoms of gonorrhea in men is a burning sensation when urinating. This level of discomfort prompts an infected person, ignorant of his status, to inquire about his health state of affairs. Most men who opt to be tested experience these symptoms.

Another symptom of gonorrhea is the evidence of a swollen testicle which is occasioned by aches in either one of the testicles or both. It may interest you to know at this juncture that this is the least common of all the symptoms of gonorrhea.

Added to the above, one may also experience some white, green or yellow discharges from the penis after he has been infected with gonorrhea.

Another symptom of concern is some swelling or redness at the tip of the penis. The opening becomes reddish and is accompanied by uneasiness because of its current infected state.

Specifically for those who practice oral sex, a persistent sore throat may be experienced and the infected person may experience some difficulty in swallowing no matter how little the food is.

Gonorrhea symptoms in women

Gonorrhea manifests itself in women by different mediums compared to that of men. It may be argued that this occurrence is due to the difference in organs or body system which functions subjectively and differently.

Some of the symptoms of gonorrhea in women include:

the need to urinate frequently,

heaviness of the menstrual flow during the cycle,

some watery, greenish and creamy discharge from the vagina,

painful and burning sensation while urinating,

painful feeling during sexual intercourse,

sore throat when oral sex is involved.

Not testing for, and treating gonorrhea on time is dangerous

While understanding gonorrhea, it is pertinent to also note that some complications can arise as a result of not testing for, and treating gonorrhea promptly. This is as a result of ignorance when these symptoms are noticed. On this note, women suffer more dangers as untreated gonorrhea infection in women can lead to destruction of the female reproductive system like the uterus, fallopian tube and the ovaries.

What to do when these symptoms arise

After all is said and done, the good news is that gonorrhea can be treated, It is therefore advised that once a person starts experiencing the symptoms of gonorrhea, he or she should visit a medical examiner so as to get the perfect treatment. One should also bear in mind that after being treated for gonorrhea, the infection can recur again.

In other words, maximizing protection during sexual relations even after being treated of the infection remains one of the most potent keys of staying safe from gonorrhea.